Preview - Sampdoria vs AC Milan 24 Sep

Milan simply love coming here. They are currently on a seven-match unbeaten streak at the home ground of Sampdoria, emerging with five wins and two draws. The resurgent giants dished out a 2-0 home win over SPAL in midweek, both goals coming from the spot. Sampdoria are still unbeaten this season, but have a game in hand following the cancellation of their Roma match due to weather warnings. In the midweek round, the Blucerchiati were surprisingly held to a goalless draw by Verona, albeit denied by two goal-line clearances. Emiliano Viviano and Dodo remain out of action, but Duvan Zapata leads the attack with Fabio Quagliarella and Gaston Ramirez. Milan are expected to rotate with a view to Thursday's Europa League action. Deadball specialist Hakan Calhanolgu could be sacrificed.

Sampdoria had to wait until late for a 2-0 victory over Milan through Duvan Zapata and Ricky Alvarez, but dominated them at Marassi.

The Rossoneri made the trip without Luca Antonelli, Davide Calabria, Andrea Conti or Riccardo Montolivo, but used Suso in a new role supporting Nikola Kalinic. Cristian Zapata got to mark his cousin and fellow Colombia international Duvan Zapata, but Emiliano Viviano and Dodo were still sidelined.

Milan's last defeat at Marassi was 2-1 in April 2010, followed by five victories and two draws between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

There was a huge scare for the visitors within two minutes, as Ivan Strinic's cross hit Franck Kessie on the arm and the referee awarded a penalty. However, a quick glance at the VAR monitor confirmed Kessie had his arm flush against his back, so the decision was overturned.

Gianluigi Donnarumma plucked a looping Duvan Zapata header out of the air, then the Colombian glanced a corner just wide in a very aggressive start from the hosts, as Milan struggled to get the ball under their pressing game and then gave possession away repeatedly.

Kessie lost the ball again, sparking a Duvan Zapata counter, but a combination of Donnarumma and Cristian Zapata blocked the angled drive at the near post.

A Gaston Ramirez snapshot was deflected off Alessio Romagnoli to hit the side-netting, then Dennis Praet dribbled down the left for a deflected cross-shot and on the rebound Lucas Torreira fired just wide.

Suso curled past the far top corner after the restart, then Praet slipped on the edge of the box to scuff his shot at Donnarumma.

Samp had the better of the game overall and took a deserved lead, even if it was a gift between cousins. Cristian Zapata nodded a half-hearted clearance straight at Duvan Zapata, who chested it down to blast under the bar from close range.

Kalinic had timid penalty appeals for a tussle with Ivan Strinic and Ferrari made a great block on Kalinic, while Quagliarella's volley flashed across the face of goal.

Puggioni rushed out to parry from substitute Patrick Cutrone on a long Leo Bonucci ball over the top, but the offside flag was up too.

Sampdoria made a much bigger impact off the bench, as Ricky Alvarez scored within seconds of getting on the pitch. Duvan Zapata dinked the pass over the top in midfield, Alvarez surged forward and drilled his shot in off the inside of the far post.